Palmer touts free footy

It’s not quite the same as when he gave away a fleet of Mercedes and holidays around the world to his staff in Townsville a couple of weeks ago, but
Clive Palmer
is playing Santa Claus again next week. Palmer will fling open the doors for his Gold Coast United soccer club’s match against A-League rival Central Coast on December 19, allowing patrons in for free. It’s hoped this will improve what have been woeful attendance for Gold Coast this year.

As usual, Palmer is talking big. “I can promise the fans the football will be like vintage champagne," he said yesterday. Gold Coast’s captain,
Jason Culina
, also provided a much-needed update for Palmer’s on-again, off-again plans to float his Resourcehouse mining investment vehicle on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Culina told the SBS soccer website earlier this week: “Clearly, Clive has been preoccupied of late with his float. When that is resolved, you will see him devote a lot more time to getting things right [at Gold Coast]." Could the float finally happen after an almost two-year wait?